JPH0668148U - Recording medium cartridge library device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] In a recording medium cartridge library device, a high cartridge transfer processing efficiency can be realized without complicating the structure of the cartridge transfer device. The transport holder transports the recording medium cartridge between the storage body and the drive by moving the transport holder between the storage body and the drive while holding the recording medium cartridge. Each holder portion of the transport holder can detachably hold the recording medium cartridge to be transported. The delivery / transfer means transfers the recording medium cartridge which has been transported or is to be transported between the storage body, the drive, etc. and the holder section, thereby recording between the storage body, the drive, etc. and the holder section. Delivery of media cartridges. The delivery transfer means is
The number (for example, one) smaller than the number of the plurality of holder portions is provided. The position adjusting means appropriately adjusts the position of the delivery transfer means so as to correspond to a desired position of the holder portion so that the delivery transfer means can be commonly used by the plurality of holder portions.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a recording medium cartridge library device, and more particularly to a recording medium cartridge library device which can realize high cartridge transfer processing efficiency without complicating the structure of the cartridge transfer device.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 An optical disk library device (hereinafter, also referred to as an OLU) is a device that stores, reads and writes an optical disk cartridge (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a cartridge), and generally, a storage rack that stores a plurality of cartridges and a cartridge. It is composed of a drive for driving (reading or reading / writing) and a transporting device for transporting the cartridge between the storage rack and the drive. The transfer device is provided with a substantially box-shaped transfer holder. The transfer holder takes in and holds a cartridge to be transferred, and in this state, it moves up and down by an elevator mechanism including an endless belt. As a result, cartridges are transported between storage racks and drives. Further, in the transfer device, the cartridge to be transferred is taken into the transfer holder from the storage rack or drive, or the cartridge that has been transferred is sent from the transfer holder to the storage rack or drive (that is, the storage rack or drive). A delivery transfer mechanism (hereinafter referred to as a picker) is provided for delivering the cartridge between the cartridge and the like and the transport holder. As a typical example of this picker, the picker is provided on both sides of the cartridge inlet / outlet of the transfer holder, and is rotated while being in contact with both side surfaces of the cartridge to be delivered, so that the cartridge can be moved relative to the transfer holder. Some consist of a pair of rollers to put in and put out.

FIG. 3A shows the overall structure of an example of such an OLU. In this OLU, the storage rack 1 stores a plurality of cartridges (only one is shown). In addition, the OLU is provided with a plurality of drives 2 (two in the illustrated example) so that the processing efficiency can be improved, and in the transfer device T, the cartridges C to be transferred are detachable. A transport holder (that is, a two-stage transport holder) H having two upper and lower holder portions 4 that can be held is used. Further, in this case, the picker P is provided for each of the holder portions 4. As is clear from FIG. 3B, the pickers P are arranged on both sides of the cartridge entrance / exit of the corresponding holder part 4, and both side surfaces of the cartridge C to be taken in / out of the holder part 4 are removed. It is composed of a pair of rollers 7 mounted on the rotating arm 6 so as to come into contact with and separate from the roller. That is, when the cartridge C is taken out of or put into the corresponding holder portion 4, the pair of rollers 7 comes into contact with both side surfaces of the cartridge C 1 by the rotation of the rotation arm 6, and thereafter, It is rotated in either direction while keeping the state. By this rotation, the cartridge C is taken out of the holder part 4 or taken in by the holder part 4 (the drawing shows the case where the cartridge C is taken in the holder part 4). When the cartridge C is transported, each picker P and the transport holder H are integrally moved in the vertical direction by the elevator mechanism E.

In such a transport device T, for example, the operation of sending two cartridges C from the storage rack 1 to the two drives 2 is performed at once, that is, in the same transport stroke. You will be able to Thus, in the transfer device T using such a two-step type transfer holder, it is possible to realize twice the cartridge transfer processing efficiency as compared with the one using the conventional one-step type transfer holder. become.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the conventional OLU of the above type, the picker P is provided for each holder portion 4 in the narrow space near the transport holder H, so that the vertical movement by the elevator mechanism E is not obstructed. Since it is necessary to include a mechanism for retracting each picker P to a predetermined position during movement, the number of constituent elements increases and the structure becomes extremely complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium cartridge library device capable of realizing high cartridge transfer processing efficiency without complicating the structure of the cartridge transfer device. And

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 A recording medium cartridge library device according to the present invention comprises a storage body for storing a plurality of recording medium cartridges, a drive for reading or writing the recording medium cartridges, and a transporting of the recording medium cartridges between the storage body, the drive and the like. A recording medium cartridge library device comprising: a conveying device for carrying out a recording medium cartridge, wherein the conveying device has a plurality of holder parts capable of detachably holding the recording medium cartridges to be conveyed, and the conveying holder. Moving means for moving the transport holder holding the recording medium cartridge between the storage body, drive and the like, and between the storage body, drive etc. and the holder portion for transporting the recording medium cartridge to be transported. Transfer for transfer in order to transfer in a number less than the number of holders And stage, so that the transfer transport means may be used in common to the plurality of the holder portion, is obtained; and a position adjusting means for positioning the transfer transport means to the desired holder.

[0008]

[Action]

 The transport holder transports the recording medium cartridge between the storage body and the drive by being moved between the storage body and the drive while holding the recording medium cartridge by the moving means. . Each holder portion of the transport holder can detachably hold the recording medium cartridge to be transported. The delivery / transfer means transfers the recording medium cartridge, which has been transported or is to be transported, between the storage unit, the drive, etc. and the holder unit, whereby the storage unit, the drive, etc. and the holder unit are transferred. The recording medium cartridge is delivered to and from. In this invention, the number of the delivery and transfer means provided is smaller than the number of the plurality of holder portions (for example, one). The position adjusting means appropriately adjusts the position of the delivery transfer means so as to correspond to the desired position of the holder portion so that the delivery transfer means can be commonly used by the plurality of holder portions.

As described above, the number of transfer transfer means for transferring the recording medium cartridge between the storage body, the drive, etc. and the holder part is smaller than that of the holder part, and the transfer means is arranged by the position adjusting means. Since it can be commonly used for the holder part, it is possible to easily realize high cartridge transfer processing efficiency without complicating the structure of the transfer device.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the position adjusting means can be constituted by means for moving the delivery transfer means relative to each holder part. Further, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the position adjusting means may be constituted by a rotatable bridging guide means provided between the delivery / transfer means and the holder part. That is, in the latter case, the bridging guide means is appropriately rotated so that both ends of the bridging guide means come to positions corresponding to the delivery and transfer means and a desired holder portion.

[0011]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 illustrates the overall configuration of an OLU in which an embodiment of the present invention is implemented. Elements in FIG. 1 designated by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 3 have the same functions as the elements in FIG.

The OLU includes a storage rack 1 that stores a plurality of cartridges C in each storage cell, and a plurality of (three in the illustrated example) drives 2a that drive (read or read / write) the cartridges C. 2b and 2c, and a transport device TA that transports the cartridge C in the OLU. In the transport device TA, the transport holder HA is vertically moved along the transport guide G by the transport elevator mechanism TE including, for example, an endless belt while holding the cartridge to be transported. The cartridge C is carried between the rack 1 and the drive 2 (hereinafter, reference numeral 2 is used to indicate any drive or all drives unspecifically).

The transport holder HA includes a holder body 12 for detachably holding the cartridge C to be transported, a storage rack 1, a drive 2 and other parts (eg, OLU cartridge) for the cartridge C to be transported. In order to send out the cartridge C, which has been taken in or carried in the holder main body 12 from the inlet, the outlet, etc.) to the storage rack 1, drive 2, etc., that is, the storage rack 1, drive 2, etc. and the holder main body In order to transfer the cartridge C to and from the cartridge 12, a picker unit 13 for transferring (removing) the cartridge C to and from the holder body 12 is configured. Note that, for simplification, this embodiment will be described below only for the case where the transport holder HA transports the cartridge C between the storage rack 1 and the drive 2.

The holder body 12 includes a plurality (three in the illustrated example) of holder portions 14 ′, 14 ″, and 14 ′ ″. Each holder portion 14 (hereinafter, reference numeral 14 is used when any one of the holder portions or all the holder portions is unspecifically indicated) is forward (toward the storage rack 1 and the drive 2). It has a cartridge entrance / exit, and takes in the cartridge C to be conveyed through this cartridge entrance / exit and holds the taken-in cartridge C detachably. Therefore, the holder main body 12 can handle three cartridges C at the same time. The holder body 12 is connected to the transport elevator mechanism TE at the rear end portion thereof via, for example, a predetermined frame (not shown) of the transport holder HA.

The picker unit 13 is provided with a single picker 15 and a single picker guide 16 that is disposed between the picker 15 and the holder body 12 and that is connected to the picker 15. The picker guide 16 guides the cartridge C, which is delivered between the storage rack 1 or the drive 2 and the holder portion 14 through the picker 15, through which the front and rear ends thereof are open. It is a tubular body with a rectangular cross section. That is, for example, the cartridge C sent from one of the holder parts 14 of the holder body 12 to the storage rack 1 or the drive 2 passes through the picker guide 16 in the direction from the rear end side opening to the front end side opening, The cartridge C, which is taken into the holder 14 from the storage rack 1 or the drive 2, passes through the picker guide 16 in the direction from the front end side opening to the rear end side opening.

According to this embodiment, although only one picker 15 and picker guide 16 are provided as described above, they are commonly used for the three holder portions 14. That is, the picker guide 16 is connected at its rear end portion to a picker elevator mechanism PE as a picker position adjusting mechanism, which can have the same configuration as the transport elevator mechanism TE, for example. The picker elevator mechanism PE allows the picker 15 and the picker guide 16, that is, the picker portion 13 to move vertically relative to the holder body 12. Therefore, the height position of the picker portion 13 can be appropriately adjusted (positioned) with respect to a desired holder portion 14 of the three holder portions 14 of the holder body 12 by the picker elevator mechanism PE. By this alignment, it is possible to properly transfer the cartridge between the picker guide 16 and the desired holder portion 14.

The picker unit 13 is connected to the holder body 12 via a picker elevator mechanism PE. Therefore, when the cartridge C is transported, the transport elevator mechanism TE is driven, whereby the picker unit 13 and the holder body 12 are integrally moved in the vertical direction. In other words, in this transfer device T, not only the entire transfer holder HA can be moved up and down by the transfer elevator mechanism TE, but also the holder body 12 and the picker portion 13 of the transfer holder HA can be adjusted in picker position. The elevator mechanism PE is capable of relative movement in the vertical direction.

For example, when the cartridge C held and carried by one of the holder portions 14 of the holder main body 12 is sent out to the storage rack 1 or the drive 2, the cartridge C first has the holder portion 14 A transfer mechanism such as a transfer roller (not shown because it is a conventional one) passes through the picker guide 16 from the holder portion 14 so that the leading end portion thereof projects from the opening on the front end side of the guide 16. Sent out. After that, the cartridge C is pulled out from the picker guide 16 by the operation of the picker 15 and finally sent out to the storage rack 1 or the drive 2.

Similarly, for example, when the cartridge C of the storage rack 1 or the drive 2 is loaded into any one of the holder portions 14, the cartridge C is picked up from the storage rack 1 or the drive 2 at a tip portion thereof. It is sent out so as to project to position 15. After that, the cartridge C is drawn into the picker guide 16 from the storage rack 1 or the drive 2 by the operation of the picker 15, passes through the picker guide 16, and is finally taken into the holder portion 14.

The picker 15 is to be pulled out from the picker guide 16 toward the storage rack 1 or the drive 2 as described above, or both side surfaces of the cartridge C to be pulled from the storage rack 1 or the drive 2 into the picker guide 16. It is composed of a pair of rollers 19 attached to the rotating arm 18 so as to come into contact with and separate from the roller. The rotating arm 18 is attached to the frame of the transport holder HA, for example. That is, the pair of rollers 19 are in contact with both side surfaces of the cartridge C by the rotation of the rotating arm 18, and in that state, for example, by a reversible motor (not shown) or the like, in a predetermined direction via the drive shaft 20. Is rotated. By this rotation, the cartridge C is pulled out of the picker guide 16 or pulled in the picker guide 16. The rotation direction of the roller 19 is opposite between when the cartridge C should be pulled out of the picker guide 16 toward the storage rack 1 or drive 2 and when it should be pulled in from the storage rack 1 or drive 2 to the picker guide 16. It goes without saying that it will be a pair.

Next, an example of the operation of the recording medium cartridge transporting device according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, in the initial state, the picker portion 13 is in a position facing the storage cell 1a ′ ″ at the bottom end of the storage rack 1 face-to-face on the front side, and the height position of the holder portion 14 ′ at the top end on the rear side. It is assumed that all the holders 14 of the holder main body 12 are in the empty state.

In this state, the cartridges C stored in the storage cell 1a ′ at the uppermost end of the storage rack 1 and the storage cell 1a ″ directly below the storage cell 1a are transported to the first drive 2a and the second drive 2b, respectively. If desired, this embodiment may perform the transfer process at one time (with the same transfer stroke). That is, first, the entire transport holder HA is guided by the transport elevator mechanism TE to the transport guide G so that the upper end holder part 14 ′ which is currently aligned with the picker part 13 is located at the uppermost storage cell 1a ′ position. Be raised along. In this way, the cartridge C stored in the uppermost storage cell 1a 'is taken in by the picker 15 through the picker guide 16 and is held in the upper holder portion 14'.

Next, the entire transport holder HA is moved by the transport elevator mechanism TE so that another holder portion (referred to as the middle holder portion 14 ″) is located at the position of the storage cell 1a ″ directly below. Then, it is slightly lowered along the transport guide G. Next, the picker unit 13 is lowered with respect to the holder main body 12 by the picker position adjusting elevator mechanism PE so that the picker unit 13 is aligned with the height position of the storage cell 1a ″ and the middle holder unit 14 ″. . In this way, the cartridge C stored in the storage cell 1a ″ is picked up by the picker 15 through the picker guide 16 and is held in the middle holder portion 14 ″. In this case, if the storage cells and the holder are equal in pitch of the bottom wall surface in sliding contact with the bottom surface of the cartridge C, the entire transport holder HA is slightly lowered by the transport elevator mechanism TE as described above. Instead, the picker unit 13 only has to be lowered with respect to the holder body 12 by the picker position adjusting elevator mechanism PE.

After that, the entire pick-up holder HA is moved so that the picker unit 13 and the middle holder unit 14 ″ that is aligned with the picker unit 13 and holds one of the cartridges C are located at the position of the second drive 2 b. It is lowered by the transport elevator mechanism TE. Then, by the picker 15, the one cartridge C held and conveyed by the holder portion 14 ″ is sent from the picker guide 16 to the second drive 2b.

Next, the entire transport holder HA is slightly lifted by the transport elevator mechanism TE so that the upper end holder portion 14 ′ holding the other cartridge C is located at the position of the first drive 2 a. . Then, the picker unit 13 is lifted with respect to the holder body 12 by the picker position adjusting elevator mechanism PE so that the picker unit 13 is aligned with the height position of the first drive 2a and the holder unit 14 'at the upper end. In this way, the other cartridge C held and conveyed by the holder portion 14a ′ is sent from the picker guide 16 to the first drive 2a by the picker 15. In this way, two cartridges C are transported from the storage rack 1 to the respective drives 2a and 2b by the same transport stroke. Also in this case, as long as the drives 2 and the holder portion 14 have the same pitch of the bottom wall surface in sliding contact with the bottom surface of the cartridge C, the entire transport holder HA is not slightly raised by the transport elevator mechanism TE. , The picker unit 13 only needs to be lifted with respect to the holder body 12 by the picker elevator mechanism PE.

Note that it is easily understood that the three cartridges C can be transported to the respective three drives 2a, 2b, 2c by the same transport stroke according to the same operation principle. Will Similarly, the cartridges C that have been used in the respective drives 2 can be returned to the respective storage cells 1a with the same transport stroke. Further, in this case, the number of holder portions 14 is not limited to three, and may be two or four or more.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, as the picker position adjusting mechanism, a movable bridge guide is used instead of the picker elevator mechanism PE in the embodiment of FIG. The cartridge C can be properly transferred between the picker guide 16 and the holder portion 14 without moving. That is, this rotatable bridging guide guides the cartridge C from one of the holder portions 14 to the picker guide 16 or allocates the cartridge C from the picker guide 16 to one of the holder portions 14 so that it can be moved in both directions. It comprises a guide plate 24 whose angle can be adjusted via a rotatable drive shaft 22.

In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the guide plate 24 is provided at the height position of the picker guide 16 and the center holder portion 14 ″. Therefore, the cartridge C is delivered between the picker guide 16 and the holder portion 14 ′ at the upper end or the holder portion 14 ′ ″ at the lower end while being inclined upward or downward. That is, for example, when the cartridge C is transferred between the picker guide 16 and the holder portion 14 ′ ″ at the lower end, the guide plate 24 has both ends thereof at the picker guide 16 and the holder portion 14 ″ at the lower end. 'Rotate downward so that it comes to the position corresponding to the cartridge doorway. Therefore, the cartridge C guided by the inclined guide plate 24 can be smoothly introduced into the cartridge entrances and exits of the picker guide 16, the upper end holder portion 14 ', and the lower end holder portion 14', respectively. It is preferable to provide an angled guide surface. If the number of holders 14 is set to two and the guide plate 24 and the picker guide 16 are permanently installed at the intermediate height position between the two holders 14, the inclination angle of the guide plate 24 can be increased. Therefore, the cartridge C can be smoothly introduced. Further, the number of holders 14 may be four or more, and two or more pickers 13 and rotatable bridging guides may be provided. In this case, the plurality of holder portions 14 can simultaneously transfer the cartridges C in parallel.

The present invention is not limited to the OLU, but may be applied to other recording medium cartridge library devices that handle magnetic tape and other recording medium cartridges. Further, the present invention may be applied to a recording medium cartridge library device that conveys a cartridge in the left-right direction or another direction instead of the up-down direction.

[0030]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, in the present invention, a smaller number of delivery transfer means for transferring the cartridge for delivering between the storage body, the drive, etc. and the holder portion are provided than the holder portion, and each of the delivery transfer means is provided. The position of the delivery transfer means is appropriately adjusted with respect to the holder part so that it can be commonly used for the holder part. With such a structure, the present invention has an excellent effect that a high cartridge transfer efficiency can be realized without complicating the structure of the cartridge transfer device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view illustrating the overall configuration of an OLU in which an embodiment of the present invention is implemented.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a problem of a conventional OLU.

[Explanation of symbols]

2a, 2b, 2c ... Drive, 5 ... Storage rack, 1
4 ', 14'',14''' ... Holder part, 15 ... Picker, PE
… Picker elevator mechanism, TE… Transport elevator mechanism

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A container for accommodating a plurality of recording medium cartridges, a drive for reading or writing the recording medium cartridge, and a conveying device for conveying the recording medium cartridge between the container, the drive and the like. A recording medium cartridge library device, wherein the transport device comprises a transport holder having a plurality of holder portions capable of detachably holding the recording medium cartridges to be transported, and the recording medium cartridge to be transported. Moving means for moving the transport holder between the storage body, the drive, etc., and the holder for transporting the recording medium cartridge that has been transported or to be transported, between the storage body, the drive, etc. and the holder part. A plurality of delivery transfer means provided in a smaller number than the number of the parts; As that may be used in common to parts, a recording medium cartridge library apparatus and a position adjusting means for positioning the transfer transport means to the desired holder.